Reports about traffic restrictions and warnings, interesting events and other incidents.

The Port of Valencia's two container terminal operators, Noatum and TCV, are reported as being unhappy with the preferential treatment being given to MSC by the port authority. Shipping lines also allege that competitive conditions have changed as a result of the decision taken by the port authority to allow the MSC terminal to handle vessels from other companies without first having issued a public tender. In February, Rafael Aznar, who heads the port authority, gave MSC permission to handle vessels from other companies, as long as they remained under its “operational control”. He apparently made this decision following advice contained with a report from the Attorney General. The MSC terminal was already operating at the limits of its capacity just handling its own vessels. In 2013, it accounted for 1.7m teu of the port's total box traffic of 4.3m teu in a terminal of just 300,000 m2.
Source: Port Strategy

Port of Antwerp develops system for onshore power in all Flemish ports

Antwerp Port Authority in collaboration with the Flemish government, other ports and waterway operators is developing a unified system for onshore power in all Flemish ports, the APA press release said. An onshore power platform has been set up for this, and a pilot project is being carried out in the port of Antwerp. Seven new onshore power connection bollards have been installed on quay 75 beside the Noordkasteel dock, with a clear and simple system for registration and payment. The Port Authority attaches great importance to this project as it permits an integrated approach to combating air pollution on a local scale.

At 1,066 feet long, Mediterranean Shipping Company’s MSC Judith arrived at the Port of New Orleans’ Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal Saturday (May 3, 2014) tying the Port’s record for the longest container ship to berth in New Orleans.
New Orleans Terminal worked the Panamanian-flagged container ship, which has a capacity of more than 8,000 twenty-foot-equivalent-units. While the Port has hosted ships with more TEU capacity, the ship is the longest container ship to berth at the Port by about 60 feet.
"The arrival of the MSC Judith illustrates the confidence MSC has in the Port of New Orleans to handle the company’s largest container ships," said Gary LaGrange, Port President and CEO. "With our 150-guage gantry cranes installed two years ago, the Port has the ability to efficiently work more than 9,000-TEU vessels."

A record 13,000 passengers disembarked on Tuesday in the port of Lisbon from the towering hulls of cruise ships, including Cunard Line's gigantic trio of "Queens" making a rare joint stopover in a nod to the destination's growing popularity. Tourism has been an important element in helping Portugal's economy emerge last year from its worst recession since the 1970s, alleviating its high unemployment rate from record highs of over 16 percent by generating jobs in tourism centres like Lisbon, Porto and the southern region of Algarve. Tourism-related revenues account for more than 10 percent of the country's gross domestic product that shrank in full-year 2013, but is expected to grow 1.2 percent this year, just as Portugal exits an international bailout. The so-called Royal Rendezvous, including the Queen Mary 2 - the largest ocean liner ever built - the Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth, all cruise ships operated by Carnival Corp's Cunard, has only ever happened in New York and in their homeport of Southampton.

The fishing industry will be the main beneficiary of the next major project in the continuing development of Lerwick Harbor where the construction of a large new jetty at Holmsgarth North is due to begin in the third quarter this year. It will provide deeper berthing and more working area for the fishing fleet, while the outer arm of the L-shaped jetty will create a dock sheltering a planned new white fish market. The outer arm will also be suitable for offshore industry vessels. Extending to over 630 metres, with ultimately 10 metres of water alongside, the Holmsgarth North project is scheduled for completion, at an estimated cost of £17 million, at end 2015.

P&O Maritime has boosted its towage services in the Port of Maputo, Mozambique, with the delivery of Sereia, a new 60 tonnes bollard pull ASD tug from the Sanmar shipyard in Turkey. The new tug joins sister ship Bulani, delivered earlier (MJ - Dec 2013). Bulani and Sereia, along with a new pilot boat and a mooring vessel, are part of a US $15 million package of investments P&O Maritime is making as part of its contract with the Port Authority - Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC).

Mumbai port which is set to carry out repairs to the Outer Lock Gate through a private contractor has informed that shipping operation could get affected during this period.
The port has issued the following schedule which is as under :-
Removal of the lock gate on 15th May during day by Port floating crane Shresta, this operation will be from 15th to 20th and resulting in No movements during day ie from 0800 hrs to 1800 hrs
From 15th May to 13th September, Indira Dock will be tidal.
Since Indira Dock being tidal only Navigation will only be during flood tide, which will result in restriction of vessel to loa 152 meters and beam 22.86 meters.
There could only be 2/3 movements in each tide and maximum permissible draft will be reduced to 8 mtrs, higher draft will be considered, depending on tide.

Further bolstering its position as Central Florida's largest cruise operator, Carnival Cruise Lines' Carnival Liberty departed on its inaugural voyage from Port Canaveral, Fla., this weekend (May 3-4), becoming the line's third year-round ship sailing from the Space Coast.
With the arrival of Carnival Liberty, Carnival will increase its annual passenger count from Port Canaveral to 600,000 – more than any other cruise operator. On Carnival Liberty's new schedule from Port Canaveral, vacationers can select from a wide variety of five-, seven- and eight-day Caribbean itineraries conveniently departing from the Central Florida while enjoying a wide range of dining, bar and entertainment innovations that were added as part of the line's Fun Ship 2.0 product enhancement program.